Glass Integral Lighting

Abstract

An article may include at least one pane of glass, at least one interlayer, a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) disposed within the at least one interlayer, and at least one transparent trace providing power to the plurality of LEDs. The at least one transparent trace may be arranged relative to the at least one interlayer and at least one pane of glass such that the at least one transparent trace is not visible to a user of the article.

The invention claimed is 
     
         1 . An article comprising:
 at least one pane of glass;   at least one interlayer;   a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) disposed within the at least one interlayer; and   at least one transparent trace electrically connected to the plurality of LEDs,   wherein the at least one transparent trace is arranged relative to the at least one interlayer and at least one pane of glass such that the at least one transparent trace is not visible to a user of the article.   
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one transparent trace is arranged on a surface of the at least one pane of glass or the at least one interlayer. 
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one interlayer comprises:
 a first interlayer; and   a second interlayer,   wherein the first interlayer is disposed between the at least one pane of glass and the second interlayer,   wherein the at least one transparent trace is disposed on a surface of the second interlayer, and   wherein the first interlayer contains the plurality of LEDs disposed therein.   
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 3 , wherein the first interlayer is a 0.76 interlayer and the second interlayer comprises polyethylene terephthalate (PET). 
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one interlayer further comprises a third interlayer arranged on a side of the second interlayer opposite the first interlayer, and
 wherein the third interlayer is a 0.38 interlayer.   
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 3  further comprising a conductive coating applied to the surface of the second interlayer,
 wherein the conductive coating is configured to at least partially define the at least one transparent trace. 
 
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 6 , wherein the conductive coating defines a plurality of deletion lines,
 wherein the plurality of deletion lines are configured to define the at least one transparent trace, and   wherein the plurality of LEDs are arranged along the at least one transparent trace.   
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 7 , wherein the conductive coating defines a plurality of intersecting lines,
 wherein the plurality of intersecting lines extend across the at least one transparent trace between adjacent deletion lines, and   wherein each of the plurality of LEDs are arranged over one of the plurality of intersecting lines, such that a first end of an LED is electrically connected to the at least one transparent trace on a first side of an intersecting line and a second end of the LED is electrically connected to the at least one transparent trace on a second side of the intersecting line.   
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 1  further comprising at least one opaque trace extending about at least a portion of a perimeter of the at least one transparent trace,
 wherein the at least one opaque trace is configured to provide power to the plurality of LEDs via the at least one transparent trace. 
 
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one opaque trace comprises silver. 
     
     
         11 . An article comprising:
 a first layer of glass;   a first interlayer having a first side and a second side, the first side of the first interlayer facing the first layer of glass;   a film having a first side and a second side, the first side of the film facing the second side of the first interlayer;   a second interlayer having a first side and a second side, the first side of the second interlayer facing the second side of the film;   a second layer of glass having a side facing the second side of the second interlayer; and   transparent circuitry arranged on a surface of the first side of the film,   wherein the first interlayer comprises at least one LED, and   wherein the transparent circuitry is configured to provide power to the at least one LED.   
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 11 , wherein the first layer of glass is touch sensitive, and
 wherein the at least one LED is configured such that, by touching the first layer of glass, at least one characteristic of the at least one LED changes.   
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one LED comprises a plurality of LEDs, and
 wherein the plurality of LEDs are configured such that, upon touching the first layer of glass, the at least one characteristic of a portion of the plurality of LEDs proximate to the touching changes.   
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 11  further comprising opaque circuitry extending about at least a portion of a perimeter of the transparent circuitry,
 wherein the opaque circuitry provides power to the at least one LED via the transparent circuitry. 
 
     
     
         15 . A car comprising the article of  claim 11 . 
     
     
         16 . A method of embedding at least one LED in a substrate, the method comprising the steps of:
 arranging the at least one LED on at least one interlayer of the substrate;   heating the substrate; and   applying pressure to the substrate,   wherein heat and pressure are applied to the substrate, such that the at least one interlayer softens and the at least one LED becomes embedded therein.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the step of:
 electrically connecting the at least one LED to a transparent trace, 
 wherein the transparent trace is configured to extend over the at least one interlayer. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the substrate comprises:
 a first pane of glass;   the at least one interlayer disposed on a side of the first pane of glass; and   a second pane of glass disposed on a side of the at least one interlayer opposite the first pane of glass,   wherein the transparent trace is disposed on a surface of the at least one interlayer or the second pane of glass.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one interlayer comprises a first interlayer and a second interlayer,
 wherein the first interlayer is disposed between the first pane of glass and the second interlayer,   wherein the second interlayer is disposed between the first interlayer and the second pane of glass,   wherein the at least one LED becomes embedded in the first interlayer, and   wherein the transparent trace is disposed on a surface of the second interlayer.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising the steps of:
 arranging the at least one LED on the second interlayer; and 
 arranging the at least one LED and the second interlayer on the first interlayer, 
 wherein the heat and pressure are applied to the substrate, such that the first interlayer softens and the at least one LED becomes embedded therein.